Lesson 4.4: Making Sense of How Landforms Erode Quickly

Based on the images, describe how landforms erode quickly. Use the cliffs shown as examples.

• Landforms erode quickly due to natural processes like wind and water.

• Landforms erode quickly due to human activities.

• Landforms erode quickly due to volcanic eruptions.

• Landforms erode quickly due to tectonic movements.

What is the main focus of the investigation mentioned in the text?

• How landforms are created

• How landforms erode quickly

• How to build a lighthouse

• How to prevent erosion

Scale can refer to the amount of time it takes for something to happen in the context of landform erosion.

• True

• False

How can wind and water erode a landform quickly?

• Wind and water can erode a landform quickly if the landform is made of loose materials.

• Wind and water can erode a landform quickly if the landform is made of solid rock.

• Wind and water can erode a landform quickly if the landform is covered with vegetation.

• Wind and water can erode a landform quickly if the landform is protected by human structures.

Watching the Wind Erosion Model demonstrates that wind and water can erode a landform quickly if the landform is made of loose materials. What evidence supports this idea?

• Wind and water cannot erode solid rock quickly.

• Loose materials are easily moved by wind and water.

• Erosion only occurs over thousands of years.

• Wind and water have no effect on landforms.

Review the list of activities on the left side of the chart. Record evidence to support how wind and water can erode a landform quickly if the landform is made of loose materials. Activity: Investigating the Sand Model.

• Wind and water can erode a landform quickly if it is made of loose materials.

• Wind and water have no effect on landforms made of loose materials.

• Only water can erode a landform made of loose materials.

• Only wind can erode a landform made of loose materials.

Wind and water contribute to erosion by:

• transporting sediments and reshaping landforms

• creating new landforms without any erosion

• only affecting coastal areas

• having no impact on landforms

After one big storm, what changes might you observe in the mountains? Fill in the box below the diagram with your observations.

• Changes in the mountains after a storm may include erosion, fallen trees, altered water flow, and changes in vegetation.

• The mountains will become taller and more colorful.

• The storm will cause the mountains to melt.

• The mountains will turn into flat plains.

After one big storm, it would be easy to notice a change to the mountains because:

• The storm causes significant erosion.

• Mountains are too large to change noticeably.

• Storms do not affect mountains.

• Changes are only visible after multiple storms.

After one big storm, it would be easy to notice a change to the island because:

• The storm would likely cause significant visible damage.

• The island is too large to notice any changes.

• Storms do not affect islands.

• Changes are only noticeable after multiple storms.